Thread: Under Stropping

Originally Posted by evnpar

Obie, with that many strokes, is there a point when you can almost "feel" that things are lined up correctly and ready to go? I was generally doing 30/60 linen/leather, but often would keep going on the leather because is was relaxing. I often find that at around 75 - 80 strokes, it feels like there is less draw, or the strokes seem smoother. I haven't known whether this was my imagination, whether I was just "in the groove" and in a good rhythm with my strokes, or whether I was actually feeling the razor's edge becoming ready for a smooth shave.

Richard,

Many elements of the straight razor world are intuitive, including stropping. Yes, of course, at some point, say a 30/60 ratio which I still do from to time, you know the razor's edge is reconstructed as well a possible. Perhaps it is in the sound, or the feel, in something that says you're ready to go. Yet, I keep going on the leather, 100 strokes, 120, or more sometimes because of the state of zen engulfing me completely. And I keep going and going, knowing that as long I strop correctly, my razor's edge will give me a sweet smooch.

I enjoy stropping that much. On top of everything else, I also add 20 strokes on the palm of my hand. I have no idea if that is technically beneficial, but spiritually, it does wonders.

Because of the arthritis in my hands, I prefer strops with light to moderate draw. The heavy draw in, say, Latigo and some other kinds of leather finishes, hurt my hand, especially at the high stropping ratios. Shell cordovan and similar leather, therefore, suit me better. Some produce a more delicious stropping sound than others, depending in part on the thickness of the strop, in my experience, and because of my love for music, I refer to them as musical strops.

The Kanayama, for instance, because of its thickness, is less musical than the much thinner and pliable Neil Miller cordovan, or the oil tanned horsehide Torolf. What's more, I like the feel of the Neil Miller and the Torolf more than I do the Kanayama because of the way the leather hugs the blade — it's a love affair.

Right you are, Richard, it is getting "in the groove."